Identification and presentation of tasks based on predicted periods of user availability

Abstract

Systems, methods and computer program products are described herein that automatically identify a task to be performed by a user, obtain an estimate of an amount of time required to complete the task, identify a period of user availability, determine that the period of user availability is suitable for performing at least a portion of the task, and in response to such a determination, cause a reminder or notification about the task to be presented to the user. The determination that the period of user availability is suitable for performing at least a portion of the task may be based at least in part on the estimate of the amount of time required to complete the task. A task completion time model may be automatically generated for the user and utilized to obtain the estimate of the amount of time required to complete the task.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method implemented by at least one computing device, comprising:
 generating a user-specific task completion time model for a user;   identifying a new task to be performed by the user;   applying the user-specific task completion time model to the new task to generate an estimated time to complete the new task;   identifying a suitable period of user availability in which to perform at least a portion of the new task based at least on the estimated time to complete the new task; and   in response to identifying the suitable period of user availability, causing a notice about the new task to be presented to the user.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein generating the user-specific task completion time model for the user comprises:
 collecting data from one or more electronic devices, the data being associated with the performance of one or more tasks by the user; and   utilizing the data to generate the user-specific task completion time model for the user.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein utilizing the data to generate the user-specific task completion time model for the user comprises generating a table that associates each of one or more task types with a corresponding completion time. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein utilizing the data to generate the user-specific task completion time model for the user comprises utilizing the data to train a machine learning algorithm that generates the task completion time model for the user. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein generating the user-specific task completion time model for the user comprises:
 utilizing a non-user-specific task completion time model as an initial version of a task completion time model for the user; and   updating the non-user-specific task completion time model based on data collected from one or more electronic devices, the data being associated with the performance of one or more tasks by the user.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein applying the user-specific task completion time model to the new task to generate the estimated time to complete the new task comprises:
 calculating the estimated time to complete the new task based on a completion time associated with each of one or more previously-completed tasks determined to be related to the new task.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining an amount of time that it takes the user to complete the new task; and   updating the user-specific task completion model for the user based on the amount of time that it takes the user to complete the new task.   
     
     
         8 . A system, comprising:
 one or more processors; and   memory that stores computer program logic for execution by the one or more processors, the computer program logic including;
 task identification logic configured to identify a task to be performed by a user; 
 task tracking logic configured to obtain an estimate of an amount of time required to complete the task; and 
 reminder generation logic that is configured to identify a period of user availability, to determine that the period of user availability is suitable for performing at least a portion of the task, the determining being based at least in part on the estimate of the amount of time required to complete the task, and in response to the determining, to cause a reminder about the task to be presented to the user. 
   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the task identification logic is configured to identify the task to be performed by the user based on one or more of: an analysis of one or more communications sent and/or received by the user, an analysis of one or more previously-detected activities of the user, and task information input by the user. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the previously-detected activities comprise a partial completion of a task. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the task identification logic is configured to identify the task to be performed by the user by identifying a habitual behavior of the user based on the analysis of the one or more previously-detected activities of the user. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the reminder generation logic is configured to identify the period of user availability based on one or more of: calendar or appointment data obtained from an application or service utilized by the user, data that identifies a current location of the user, data concerning usage of a device, application or service by the user, and sensor data obtained by a device associated with the user. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the task tracking logic is configured to obtain the estimate of the amount of time required to complete the task by applying a task completion time model to the task, the task completion time model being generated based at least in part on data that indicates how long it took the user to perform a same or similar task. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the task tracking logic is configured to obtain the estimate of the amount of time required to complete the task by applying a task completion time model to the task, the task completion time model being generated based at least in part on data that indicates how long it took at least one other user to perform a same or similar task. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the reminder generation logic is configured to determine that the period of user availability is suitable for performing the at least a portion of the task by determining that the period of user availability equals or exceeds the estimate of the amount of time required to perform the task. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the reminder generation logic is further configured to identify one or more additional periods of user availability, and wherein the reminder generation logic is configured to determine that the period of user availability is suitable for performing the at least a portion of the task by determining that the period of user availability in combination with the one or more additional periods of user availability equals or exceeds the estimate of the amount of time required to perform the task. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the reminder generation logic is further configured to determine that the period of user availability is suitable for performing the at least a portion of the task by determining one or more of: a mental and/or emotional state of the user, one or more resources currently available or unavailable to the user, user habits, user preferences, and imminence of a deadline associated with the task. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the reminder generation logic is configured to cause the reminder about the task to be presented to the user by causing the reminder about the task to be presented to the user by a digital personal assistant executing on a device. 
     
     
         19 . A computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon that, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform a method for generating task reminders for a user, the computer program logic comprising:
 first computer program logic that, when executed by the one or more processors, identifies a task to be performed by a user;   second computer program logic that, when executed by the one or more processors, applies a user-specific task completion time model to the task to obtain an estimate of an amount of time required to complete the task;   third computer program logic that, when executed by the one or more processors, identifies a period of user availability; and   fourth computer program logic that, when executed by the one or more processors, determines that the period of user availability is suitable for performing at least a portion of the task, the determining being based at least in part on the estimate of the amount of time required to complete the task, and in response to the determining, causes a reminder about the task to be presented to the user.   
     
     
         20 . The computer program product of  claim 19 , wherein the computer program logic further comprises:
 fifth computer program logic that, when executed by the one or more processors, determines a completion time for the task after the user has performed the task and updates the user-specific task completion time model based on the completion time.